We need more people like Steve Jobs

In roughly one week, Apple Inc. will unveil a new product at their company event. Invites that have been going out recently carry the teaser “Come see our latest creation.” Of course, if you’ve been following the tech world recently, you probably know that this latest creation will be Apple’s first tablet computer. Termed the “iSlate” by followers, this device promises to be truly revolutionary. The device will boast a 10” OLED touch screen display (approximately) that will function as a full service computer with revolutionary gesture sensing touch technology.[1] It’s also rumored to cost upwards of $600 dollars, potentially even $1000. So are you going to buy it? Probably not, right? But that’s also what people said about the iPhone, and the iPhone is now the most popular phone in America[2]. I remember when I first saw the iPhone. I had heard about it, and had wanted one, but didn’t seriously think I would buy one for the price of $600. But then I went to the Apple store, and it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. 20 minutes later, I was walking out with a small Apple bag. When you think about it, Apple has been doing this for years. Companies like Microsoft and Google are very capable companies, but neither match Apple’s leadership in the consumer electronics sector. And that’s because of one man: Steve Jobs.

Job’s leadership is notorious in Silicon Valley. He’s a brilliant guy, but he’s described as one of the hardest bosses around. Known for firing people if they bring anything less than the best, Job’s desire for perfection is well documented. If you disagree with him, you might get fired. If he’s having a bad day and you piss him off, you might even get fired for that. Despite all that, I think he’s one of the best CEOs in the world, and that we need more people like him. Innovation doesn’t come from lax mediocrity. Weak, lenient personalities aren’t going to bring groundbreaking products. Things like the iPhone aren’t created by workers seeking a ho-hum, eyebrow raising product. The jaw dropping, speechless reactions the iPhone gathered came because a strong-willed CEO was willing to settle for something average. There was nothing like the iPhone when it came out, most of the world was still on the RAZR. Do you see RAZRs anymore?

I really don’t think I’m going to buy the iSlate. A net book is far cheaper and probably closer to what I’m looking for. But because of Steve Jobs, I haven’t bought that net book yet. I don’t know how good his “latest creation” is going to be, but I know enough about Steve Jobs to wait.

When he was trying to get PepsiCo’s John Sculley to join Apple, Jobs said, “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”[3] That’s what Steve Jobs does. He might be nearly impossible to work for, and he might be one of the craziest CEO’s out there. But he creates things the whole world wants, and we need more people like that.